Director of Maintenance

Job Description - Director of Maintenance (18596)

About Us:

AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR) is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people across over 60 sites in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago, Illinois area, AAR supports commercial and government customers in more than 100 countries through four operating segments:
Parts Supply, Integrated Solutions, Repair and Engineering and Expeditionary Services. AAR’s purpose is to empower people to build innovative aerospace solutions today so you can safely reach your destination tomorrow. The company’s mission is to go above and beyond to provide value-driven aerospace aftermarket solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers worldwide. AAR constantly searches for the right thing to do for its customers, employees, partners and for society.

Director of Maintenance - 18596

Description

This position is pending contract award. The anticipated start date is on October 1, 2026

The Director of Maintenance provides enterprise leadership and strategic oversight for all aviation maintenance activities supporting Army flight training operations. This role ensures fleet readiness, regulatory compliance, and safe, efficient mission execution by directing maintenance control, AAMS integration, technical training, dispatch coordination, reliability analytics, and continuous improvement. Serving as the senior maintenance authority for the program, the Director establishes policy, drives standardization and digital maintenance initiatives, oversees subcontracted Part 145 repair stations, and ensures maintenance operations align with customer objectives, contractual requirements, and Army Aviation readiness standards.

• Define and lead the long‑range maintenance strategy, Program of Maintenance, and sustainment roadmap for all assigned aircraft.
• Provide senior oversight of airworthiness decisions, compliance controls, and regulatory alignment across maintenance activities.
• Serve as the executive interface with subcontracted Part 145 repair stations, ensuring performance, contract compliance, and issue resolution.
• Oversee aircraft readiness visibility, discrepancy management, minimum equipment list governance, and technical decision‑making.
• Lead forecasting, maintenance planning integration, and operational risk mitigation across maintenance and dispatch operations.
• Direct maintenance analytics and reporting to deliver accurate cost, schedule, risk, and performance insights to leadership and customer stakeholders.
• Determine support requirements including facilities, personnel, safety, and maintenance resources.
• Oversee IERW maintenance training strategy, ensuring courseware accuracy, instructional effectiveness, and compliance with contractual, regulatory, and OEM requirements.
• Promote technician development, standardization, and continuous learning across maintenance teams and subcontracted personnel.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you will need to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year institution.
• 10 years of aircraft maintenance management experience in a similar environment.
• Working knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances and installation access credentials.
• Experience managing large‑scale DoD or Army programs with responsibility for cost, schedule, performance, and customer satisfaction preferred.
• Experience with FAA Part 91, Part 43, and 121/135/145 operations.
• FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate and Inspection Authorization (IA) or similar experience preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship required for access to Fort Rucker.
• Ability to travel to support customer engagements and program execution.

• Competitive compensation.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Generous paid time off program. Professional development and career advancement opportunities.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by…